Poll

In Run-Up to General Election POS Summarises Main Parties Planning Policies

Date: 10/2/2015

John Silvester, Communications Manager for POS, has provided a summary of the main political parties approach to environmental and planning matters, courtesy of Local Dialogue. Silvester commented "Any commentary in our summary is theirs not the Society's.".

High on the list of Conservative priorities is promoting regeneration of derelict brownfield sites. This regeneration would be driven by new housing starts, and supported through state action on areas like mortgage deposits and Stamp Duty holidays.

Support for social housing providers. This policy is indicative of the 'enabling state' approach we expect the Conservatives to continue to embrace: the state supporting the construction of social housing, which could move into the private sector at a later date.

Housebuilding on approved sites will have "use it or lose it" permissions. Labour is promising local authorities new powers to charge fees or compulsory purchase sites that have already been granted planning permission.

Empty homes would be advertised in the UK before being advertised overseas, and homeowners will be charged for leaving homes empty.

As well as new towns and garden cities, Labour would like to give the "right to grow" (not build) to towns and villages that would like to expand but are struggling to work in harmony with neighbouring authorities.

New affordable homes - is the highest target of the 'main 3' parties. Mechanisms for reaching this inlude an 'affordable housing bank', offering low cost loans to developers.

Allow councils to borrow against their assets - a long standing Lib Dem policy of allowing boroughs more financial leeway didn't find it into the 2010 Coalition agreement but is something they'd like to see in a new coalition.

Protecting the countryside - UKIP sees the country's greenbelt as sacrosanct, and would change the National Planning Policy Framework to make it almost impossible to develop it.

Promoting brownfield - UKIP would introduce a raft of measures to encourage new development at brownfield sites, including an exemption from stamp duty.

Ending renewable subsidies -UKIP has made clear that it will not tolerate wind and solar farms in the countryside, pledging to end subsidies the renewables industry is seen to rely upon.

Power to the people - UKIP will enable communities to hold referendums on large, controversial developments if they are approved. This new type of local referendum would take place within 3 months of the consent - a sort of planning appeal without the lawyers.